Lawson's
2012.12.24 - 750ml bottle in pint glass. Just returned from a trip to Vermont with a few bottles of this obtained at the Warren Store. Pours dark and opaque. Little to no head, just a thin layer of foam. Aroma is pretty neutral, no real roasty/chocolate aroma as expected, and though there is a bit of sweetness in the aroma it too is less than expected. First taste follows the nose, fairly neutral and only revealing a bit of roastiness and sweetness on the back end. Mouthfeel is pretty smooth and velvety, not too thick. Little carbonation. Early in my impression is good; well done stout but not as "Vermont MAPLE" as expected or hoped. After a bit as it's warmed up and my palate has adjusted it becomes more balanced and what you'd expect - basically mild sweetness enveloping and following a mild roast stout flavor. Good stuff.

Big thanks for dak for opening this series of Imperial Stouts at the Annual Black Friday tasting. It pours inky darkness with a minimal tan colored head of foam. The aroma offers up dark roasted malts, burnt toffee sweetness and dark roasted coffee notes. The taste is rich and kind of thin with dark roasted malts, some mild roasted malt astringency and heading into dark roasted coffee. Nice brew with firm strong notes but is seems to lack the richness that defines the higher rated brews of this particular style.

I’ve had this many times locally on Tap and various bottles of vintages. This is the 2012 fresh batch. 750ml, paid $15 at the farmers market. Thanks Sean. Enjoyed at 60 degrees F. 2 finger head that fades fast. Pitch black. Smells of maple sap and honey. Brown sugars and chocolate malts. Hint of smokiness. Taste is sweet up front. Makes my tongue tingle. Middle is a malt bomb and the finish is bakers chocolate and maple. Heavy body.

Shared by mixylplik3, thanks for the opportunity Matt!
Pours an inky black color with a smallish tan head that dissipates rather quickly. Smells of caramel, chocolate, brown sugar, maple, and a hint of earthy hops. The flavor follows the aroma and is incredibly smooth. Sweet maple and brown sugar play nicely with chocolate coffee and roast against a hint of earth and a touch of alcohol. Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation and a sweet sugary mouthfeel. This is a great beer, nicely balanced, smooth and quite tasty.

750 ml bottle served in a Deschutes tulip. Big thanks to Mike (Gushue3) for the bottle!
A: Pours a black body with browner edges and thin tan head. It recedes to a thin film and ring that leaves some splotchy lace behind.
S: Roasty malts with unsweetened chocolate and just a touch of maple syrup sweetness.
T: The maple is more pronounced in the taste, but it is more sugary and somewhat artificial tasting. The taste still has the roasted malts and chocolate flavors from the nose. Booze is nicely hidden.
M: Medium bodied with a medium to medium carbonation. I was expecting a creamier mouth, but it was very drying in nature.
O: This was a solid stout, but I wish the maple was a tad less artificial and the mouthfeel wasn’t so drying. The booze was hidden which was nice. Good, but don’t go afte the hype.
Serving type: bottle
Reviewed on: 05-01-2012

Bottle pour. Pours dark brown black with a khaki tight soapy head that fades. Aroma has chocolate roasted malt and subtle bitterness. Taste is chocolate and bitter malt along with a subtle vanilla. Palate is medium and chalky. Tasty!

Bottle shared by maximum12! Inky dark black pour, almost no carbonation and an aroma of bitter chocolate and a little coffee. Flavor is also bitter dry chocolate, medium body and a little peat. Very enjoyable.

25.4 oz bottle. Mahogany brown with receding tan bubbles. Nose is smoky chocolate, hay and prune. Maple is there but i wouldn’t have guessed it; more noticiable after a few sips. Tangy medium body, a bit chalky. Taste is espresso and dark chocolate with hints of maple syrup and burnt sugar emerging in the finish. It’s a nice brew but not enough flavor-packed to make it a standout.

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